Early Irish records list as many as 1,700 saints. There is a wealth of folklore, legend and tradition and literature associated with them.These colourful characters taught, looked after the sick, settled feuds, wrote histories and poetry. Some endured incredible hardship, living in hermitages on barren cliff tops, such as on Skellig. Many, such as Cillian and Columbanus, travelled thousands of miles to spread the Christian faith, establishing large, powerful monasteries across Europe.



This book provides a fascinating anthology of the lives and times of Ireland's holy men and women. Accessible in style, with plenty of anecdotal evidence, it gives an insight into the early origins of Christianity and the role of the religious in Irish society.